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We embrace the process of transformation in Christ, both in ourselves and in others, through the practice of Centering Prayer.

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The Purpose of Religion

Series:

Love Matters

Week:

30

Love Matters are wisdom words from Fr. Thomas Keating spoken during the filming of the new series God is Love: The Heart of All Creation. Some are included in the series; others are from footage published here for the first time. A new word will be posted every Monday throughout the year. May they serve to inspire hope and lift your heart.

What religions should do above all is to recover their contemplative dimension and to present it in ways that are accessible to different kinds of people, including the poor, the middle class and the well to do, so that everybody has some opportunity to consider the great truths of philosophy and faith that have been developed in the world while not overly depending on them as the last word and being willing to move into more intuitive and direct practices for a personal relationship with God. That seems to be the purpose of religion individually and corporately, but individually with the assistance of the community without which its individuality is somewhat suspect. It needs to be nourished and over a long time and there have to be examples of more dedication that people can imitate if they want to.

My answer would be – if that is your question – is you have to get people to meditate, with a meditation that leads or cultivates silence, on a daily basis, if you’re going to offset the endless propaganda of worldly motivation and opportunities for shallow gratifications that don’t speak to the deeper needs of humanity, but which are multiplied almost infinitely in the present diversity of cultures and opportunities.